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This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration
A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Finalist, Linda Barrett Osborne’s This Land is Our Land “explores the history of American immigration from the early colonization of the continent to the contemporary discussions involving undocumented aliens.”*
American attitudes toward immigrants are paradoxical. On the one hand, we see our country as a haven for the poor and oppressed; anyone, no matter his or her background, can find freedom here and achieve the “American Dream.” On the other hand, depending on prevailing economic conditions, fluctuating feelings about race and ethnicity, and fear of foreign political and labor agitation, we set boundaries and restrictions on who may come to this country and whether they may stay as citizens.
This book explores the way government policy and popular responses to immigrant groups evolved throughout US history, particularly between 1800 and 1965. The book concludes with a summary of events up to contemporary times, as immigration again becomes a hot-button issue.
“Exceptional . . . Outstanding archival photographs and illustrations complement the comprehensive text and encourage thoughtful discussion . . . An excellent time line and end notes and a thorough bibliography make this an effective research tool.” —* School Library Journal (Starred Review)
American attitudes toward immigrants are paradoxical. On the one hand, we see our country as a haven for the poor and oppressed; anyone, no matter his or her background, can find freedom here and achieve the “American Dream.” On the other hand, depending on prevailing economic conditions, fluctuating feelings about race and ethnicity, and fear of foreign political and labor agitation, we set boundaries and restrictions on who may come to this country and whether they may stay as citizens.
This book explores the way government policy and popular responses to immigrant groups evolved throughout US history, particularly between 1800 and 1965. The book concludes with a summary of events up to contemporary times, as immigration again becomes a hot-button issue.
“Exceptional . . . Outstanding archival photographs and illustrations complement the comprehensive text and encourage thoughtful discussion . . . An excellent time line and end notes and a thorough bibliography make this an effective research tool.” —* School Library Journal (Starred Review)
128 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2016
50 people are currently reading
557 people want to read
About the author
Linda Barrett Osborne
19 books15 followersLinda Barrett Osborne is the author of several books for children on African American history, including Abrams’ Traveling the Freedom Road. She is a senior writer and editor in the Library of Congress’s Publishing Office. She lives in Washington, DC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
March 17, 2017
This is s beautifully written and illustrated book about the history of immigration in the U.S. It's very detailed and never pulls punches on the blatant racism. At one point in time every American has faced it in their family tree.
February 7, 2017
Outstanding resource on immigration.
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December 13, 2016So timely and relevant and important. This book explores immigration to America from the beginning of European "settlement" through the issues with today's immigration reform and how it impacts immigrants arriving from all corners of the world. Engaging, well paced, and not without being critical, Osborne makes this book relevant to every reader in the USA and doesn't skimp on highlighting the terribly cruel ways that Americans have been racist throughout history.
Loved the chapter on refugees especially, as it really highlights the difference between what immigrants are and what refugees are. It's even-handed, even though it's critical, talking about the desire to help vs how much help can be given (with some key points about how even where refugees are "welcome," they face discrimination).
Great images, great layout, excellent backmatter. An all around must-read for both middle grade and young adult readers, as well as adults who could use a nice refresher and overview of a complicated human rights issue.
Loved the chapter on refugees especially, as it really highlights the difference between what immigrants are and what refugees are. It's even-handed, even though it's critical, talking about the desire to help vs how much help can be given (with some key points about how even where refugees are "welcome," they face discrimination).
Great images, great layout, excellent backmatter. An all around must-read for both middle grade and young adult readers, as well as adults who could use a nice refresher and overview of a complicated human rights issue.
November 23, 2017
I read this book for my young adult materials class:
I don't know how to really feel about this book. It's important because it addresses immigration which is such an important aspect of our history especially now. I think the information was thought provoking and it enlightened on various aspects of immigration that I wasn't familiar with. For example I knew that there were exclusions to certain groups in terms of immigration but I had no knowledge of the quotas that were set that kept out immigrants of certain ethnicities and socioeconomic status out. It never fails to amaze me that a place that is supposed to be the melting pot of the world could be so dark and grim towards people that are different. It's so sad to read about the millions of people who are just trying to make a better life for themselves but are faced with discrimination because they are different or have different cultural practices. It the same type of gross feeling I get when people say that Latino immigrants need to learn English because they're now in America. It's a disgusting fear. This idea that people won't or can't assimilate because they still want to hold on to certain traditions from their native country. At the end of the day we all from immigrants.
Full review to come when it goes live on my blog.
I don't know how to really feel about this book. It's important because it addresses immigration which is such an important aspect of our history especially now. I think the information was thought provoking and it enlightened on various aspects of immigration that I wasn't familiar with. For example I knew that there were exclusions to certain groups in terms of immigration but I had no knowledge of the quotas that were set that kept out immigrants of certain ethnicities and socioeconomic status out. It never fails to amaze me that a place that is supposed to be the melting pot of the world could be so dark and grim towards people that are different. It's so sad to read about the millions of people who are just trying to make a better life for themselves but are faced with discrimination because they are different or have different cultural practices. It the same type of gross feeling I get when people say that Latino immigrants need to learn English because they're now in America. It's a disgusting fear. This idea that people won't or can't assimilate because they still want to hold on to certain traditions from their native country. At the end of the day we all from immigrants.
Full review to come when it goes live on my blog.
July 16, 2020
Just started and already pleased. I can tell this is going to be thoughtful, and careful, and that I'm going to learn stuff. For example, I did not know that Benjamin Franklin spoke out against immigration.
Ok done. Learned a lot.
Thomas Nast supported immigration. He's got a bad reputation in the history books that I learned from, but he was probably savvy enough to recognize that hard working newcomers would contribute to the economy.
Also learned about Angel Island. Not nearly the big deal Ellis Island was, but still worth knowing about.
Because of quota laws, European Jews could not escape WWII to America, and so many of those 6 million deaths are on our hands.
Perla Rabor Rigor, an immigrant Filipino nurse, said "To me... success is not measured by the position the person has reached in life, but by the obstacles she or he has overcome."
Highly recommended, especially to teens, the target audience.
Also, lots of backmatter/ appendices. :)
Ok done. Learned a lot.
Thomas Nast supported immigration. He's got a bad reputation in the history books that I learned from, but he was probably savvy enough to recognize that hard working newcomers would contribute to the economy.
Also learned about Angel Island. Not nearly the big deal Ellis Island was, but still worth knowing about.
Because of quota laws, European Jews could not escape WWII to America, and so many of those 6 million deaths are on our hands.
Perla Rabor Rigor, an immigrant Filipino nurse, said "To me... success is not measured by the position the person has reached in life, but by the obstacles she or he has overcome."
Highly recommended, especially to teens, the target audience.
Also, lots of backmatter/ appendices. :)
November 20, 2017
I enjoyed this book because it gave me a lot of insight on immigration laws in the United States over the centuries and the general attitudes of American citizens toward immigrants. However I am not sure whether I would assign the entire book to students because it does have a lot of information and it I sometimes found it hard to process everything. I would probably break up the book and let my class tackle it in smaller doses. The timeline gets a little fuzzy as well, because the author jumps around with the time period a lot. In one paragraph she would be talking about the laws passed in 1924 and the next paragraph she would refer back to American opinions of immigrants in the late 1800's. It became a little hard to to keep all the facts straight and remember what events happened when.
That being said, the book depicted a powerful theme of immigrants wanting to come to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their families. The United States has an unfortunate history of strict immigration laws, whether it be with small quotas or outright denial of certain races. I was also shocked to learn Chinese Americans were denied citizenship in the United States until well into the 20th Century. I hadn't realized how recently it was that they were even given the rights to call themselves American. I was also amazed by the treatment of new immigrants by those whose parents may have been immigrants. U.S. citizens have a pattern of discrimination toward foreigners, and even those whose immigrant parents suffered discrimination developed an attitude of unwelcomeness toward new immigrants.
It is hard to see how the United States has treated immigrants since its creation. The personal stories included in the book showed the resilience of immigrants, as well as their ability to work hard for what they want despite the many barriers they face. A Rwandan refugee named Clementine Wamariya said "welcoming and accepting refugees whose lives have been robbed from them is so important... we, more than anybody else, understand the value of peace, and are going to be the leaders that promote it"(pg. 88). This quote stood out to me more than any other part of this book. Her words are so powerful, and they bring up the idea that immigrants of all nationalities are a force to be reckoned with. So many Americans dismiss them because they don't speak english or don't appear to be educated enough to contribute to society. But immigrants and refugees are some of the hardest working people, because nothing in life was handed to them. They had to work for their education and place in society, they had to defy the stereotypes and prove they could bring something to the table. The strength in times of adversity is a trait every immigrant possesses, and for this reason, immigrants should not be dismissed so easily.
That being said, the book depicted a powerful theme of immigrants wanting to come to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their families. The United States has an unfortunate history of strict immigration laws, whether it be with small quotas or outright denial of certain races. I was also shocked to learn Chinese Americans were denied citizenship in the United States until well into the 20th Century. I hadn't realized how recently it was that they were even given the rights to call themselves American. I was also amazed by the treatment of new immigrants by those whose parents may have been immigrants. U.S. citizens have a pattern of discrimination toward foreigners, and even those whose immigrant parents suffered discrimination developed an attitude of unwelcomeness toward new immigrants.
It is hard to see how the United States has treated immigrants since its creation. The personal stories included in the book showed the resilience of immigrants, as well as their ability to work hard for what they want despite the many barriers they face. A Rwandan refugee named Clementine Wamariya said "welcoming and accepting refugees whose lives have been robbed from them is so important... we, more than anybody else, understand the value of peace, and are going to be the leaders that promote it"(pg. 88). This quote stood out to me more than any other part of this book. Her words are so powerful, and they bring up the idea that immigrants of all nationalities are a force to be reckoned with. So many Americans dismiss them because they don't speak english or don't appear to be educated enough to contribute to society. But immigrants and refugees are some of the hardest working people, because nothing in life was handed to them. They had to work for their education and place in society, they had to defy the stereotypes and prove they could bring something to the table. The strength in times of adversity is a trait every immigrant possesses, and for this reason, immigrants should not be dismissed so easily.
March 12, 2017
Students are encouraged to read nonfiction books with a question in mind. These days’ students have many questions about our country and the people that make up our country. This Land is Our Land by Linda Barret Osborne is a 2017 YALSA Award Nominee for Excellence in Nonfiction and offers many explanations to questions about past and present immigration policies of the United States. Older students in grades 5th-8th will find this informational book insightful and eye opening when they read about why American attitudes towards immigrants are so paradoxical. At the same time, students will develop empathy and understanding for the diverse make up of our country's population. I suggest reading this book in an ebook format, I was able to use the bonus note taking and highlighting options offered.
The author does shine a positive light throughout the book on the accomplishments and success that many people achieved thanks to the opportunities they were given in the United States. However, the book also recounts the harsh reality that many immigrants faced when they entered the United States. For instance, the book begins by attempting to explain the origin of anti-immigrant behavior. It explains that the first European American settlers used their feelings of superiority to justify their treatment of others by dividing people into acceptable and unacceptable groups depending on their country of origin and physical characteristics.
This carefully organized nonfiction book has many text features that can help students comprehend the complexity of the text. The table of contents shows clearly titled sections that can be useful to a young researcher looking for specific information. There are many photographs and illustrations with accompanying captions that provide scenes from history that may be difficult for young readers to imagine. The introduction of the book explains the purpose of the text, which is to explore the history of our country’s attitudes about immigrants through various perspectives. Primary sources and first had accounts are included throughout the book and identified by differentiated text.
The author does shine a positive light throughout the book on the accomplishments and success that many people achieved thanks to the opportunities they were given in the United States. However, the book also recounts the harsh reality that many immigrants faced when they entered the United States. For instance, the book begins by attempting to explain the origin of anti-immigrant behavior. It explains that the first European American settlers used their feelings of superiority to justify their treatment of others by dividing people into acceptable and unacceptable groups depending on their country of origin and physical characteristics.
This carefully organized nonfiction book has many text features that can help students comprehend the complexity of the text. The table of contents shows clearly titled sections that can be useful to a young researcher looking for specific information. There are many photographs and illustrations with accompanying captions that provide scenes from history that may be difficult for young readers to imagine. The introduction of the book explains the purpose of the text, which is to explore the history of our country’s attitudes about immigrants through various perspectives. Primary sources and first had accounts are included throughout the book and identified by differentiated text.
May 23, 2017
Thoroughly researched and accessible because of the vignettes that are included in this book's six chapters, This Land Is Our Land explores the history of immigration in the United States. As is the case for many readers, this is a personal story for author Linda Barrett Osborne since all eight of her great-grandparents were born in Italy before moving to this country. Even as she acknowledges that personal connection and ponders how our nation got its start as a nation of immigrants, she sifts through various documents and legislation to trace historical trends in who was coming to America and who was allowed to come in. As is often the case with history, many of the reasons those first white settlers arrived on these shores are the same reasons that immigrants are drawn to the country today--a chance for a better life and religious freedom, to mention two. Now, there are those who come seeking sanctuary from oppressive regimes as well. The book is divided into six chapters that tell the immigration story chronologically. In the first wave of immigration after the nation's birth, the arrival of Germans and Irish was problematic for those who considered themselves "true" Americans. As those immigrants eventually became accepted, Nativists had trouble accepting Italians, Jews, and Eastern Europeans. Chapters three and four cover immigrants from Asia and those from south of the border while chapter five looks at refugees seeking a safe place. Each chapter provides a brief history of how the United States treated the immigrants from those countries, sometimes even setting unrealistic and unfair quotas on the number of individuals that would be allowed in from one country over another one. Chapter six is the most important chapter, though, since it is here and in the epilogues that Osborne raises the question of just to whom this land belongs, a question that will certainly provide many hours of discussion and debate and one which our own government has been unable to resolve successfully. Throughout the books, she goes to great pains to present many sides to the issue while also providing readers with statistics about immigration numbers through the years. The book's text, moving nimbly from one complicated aspect of the immigration story to the next, is supported by a handsome design that incorporates archival photographs, many of them covering a full page, and weaving in myriad personal accounts of the journey to America for every period the author covers. Anyone who becomes upset about the current state of affairs or seeks to understand why immigration is even a hot button topic will have his/her questions answered here while also being encouraged to ask more questions about how many immigrants a country can welcome and still maintain its identity--or is it the immigrants who give this country its unique identity? Ultimately, the book does exactly what it sets out to do--provide a history of American immigration. This is an excellent addition to any school library or middle grade social studies or history classroom library, and it might be a good title for any politician's or President's reading list. Back matter includes a detailed timeline, notes, reference, and an index. As the great-granddaughter of German, Swiss, Irish, and Scottish immigrants, I am fully aware of my own privileged status and wonder how different things might have been if my ancestors had not been allowed to enter the country when they first arrived. The book is sure to make readers think about their own history in this land of ours.
March 10, 2017
A great book about the history of immigration in the US. The book has a total of 6 chapters, that takes the reader on a journey from the beginning of American immigration through 2015.
The text is simple and easy to understand, and each chapter has a good amount of photos and other images of paintings and flyers. The text also includes interviews with immigrants - some famous and some not.
The book is also well organized. The chapters are color-coded, and there is an excellent assortment of backmatter, including an appendix, timeline, notes, bibliography, index and illustration credits.
The text is simple and easy to understand, and each chapter has a good amount of photos and other images of paintings and flyers. The text also includes interviews with immigrants - some famous and some not.
The book is also well organized. The chapters are color-coded, and there is an excellent assortment of backmatter, including an appendix, timeline, notes, bibliography, index and illustration credits.
April 12, 2017
This book was amazing. At times it was dry and repetitive, but the repetitiveness is not the fault of the author, it's because governments and people keep repeating themselves. (Tangent) Which is why history is so important! Learn from our past! Stop doing the same things over and over again! (end tangent). This Land is Our Land is very well written, the photographs included make perfect sense in their locations and it is easy to see why this book was a 2017 Youth Media Award book. This is a very timely book that I think everybody, young and old, should read.
November 20, 2017
This Land Is Our Land by Linda Osborne does an excellent job at displaying American attitudes toward immigrates in a perplexing way. I really enjoyed reading this book for multiple reasons. Although this book is informational, I also found this book be to historic-fiction. I learned many new aspects of American history and a more in-depth understanding of immigration laws in the United States from the 1800s to the early 1920s.
The author displays a theme of power. Power is demonstrated through immigrants ambition to come to the United States to create a better life. However, the immigrant’s ambition is over buried by the strict immigration laws the United States has. Throughout the book, a number of immigrants share their story and state the United States laws they had to overcome. I really enjoyed hearing different points of view of immigration laws and better established my own option on this ongoing issue.
Overall, This Land Is Our Land is a challenging book to read. At some points in the book, I had a difficult time understanding what was happening. The time period in the book jumps around multiple times and has a lot of flashbacks. Linda Osborne diffidently challenges the reader and makes the story a little harder to process than other books. As a teacher, I would not recommend this book to elementary students because it is rather difficult to understand and the complexity level is very high; however, I would introduce this book to high school students. This book would be appropriate for high school students because even though this book is challenging many students may be able to relate to the personal stories shared throughout the book.
The author displays a theme of power. Power is demonstrated through immigrants ambition to come to the United States to create a better life. However, the immigrant’s ambition is over buried by the strict immigration laws the United States has. Throughout the book, a number of immigrants share their story and state the United States laws they had to overcome. I really enjoyed hearing different points of view of immigration laws and better established my own option on this ongoing issue.
Overall, This Land Is Our Land is a challenging book to read. At some points in the book, I had a difficult time understanding what was happening. The time period in the book jumps around multiple times and has a lot of flashbacks. Linda Osborne diffidently challenges the reader and makes the story a little harder to process than other books. As a teacher, I would not recommend this book to elementary students because it is rather difficult to understand and the complexity level is very high; however, I would introduce this book to high school students. This book would be appropriate for high school students because even though this book is challenging many students may be able to relate to the personal stories shared throughout the book.
January 27, 2018
Clear, spacious history of immigration with lots of pictures (I recognized one that also appeared in the book on plague, which was fun). The author works hard at being factual and only in the epilogue speaks freely about her belief that immigration is a fundamental part of America, but I had figured out her feelings earlier.
July 16, 2018
A fantastic overview of the history of immigration in our country. Highly recommend!
October 28, 2017
This Land Is Our Land was a bulky but informative book. History books are a lot to take in, there's so much information on one page that it can be overwhelming. This book was very informal and educational that finishing it was somewhat hard. I'm currently enrolled in a history course and after reading pages and pages of a newsy text, I lack interest. Textbooks are not my style, so reading this book was a good different. I would recommend this book to history lovers or someone who has an interest in history. I think I've learned more in this book than in any history classes I've taken. It was very rich in detail and definitely helped breaking down historical events, making it simpler and easier for some readers. I took pleasure in reading a positive history book that discussed accomplishments that people achieved and their numerous opportunities they were given in the United States.
I think talking about the "American Dream" and the history of American immigration is something everyone should have knowledge about. This book had great photographs and illustrations for readers as well, they all complemented the text. This book is obviously well-researched and clearly written, a very strong introduction to immigration. This book would be beneficial to high school students or equally adults. It could be used for drawn-out discussions in history courses. I could see this as a required reading in high school and endorse it to be as well.
I'm currently learning about immigration, immigration from Asia, Latin American immigrants, and more. Therefore, this book is important and applicable. History doesn't come easy to me, along with other people I presume, this book has helped me further comprehend immigration issues. This book could help students, teachers, and adults learn about our country's immigration and additionally the chance to read primary sources like you would find in a textbook. I appreciated the text being simple and straightforward to understand unlike other history books. This book can be dry, but immigration is a hot topic and is something all students should be aware of. I deem this book a remarkably good addition to a school's library and social studies classroom.
I think talking about the "American Dream" and the history of American immigration is something everyone should have knowledge about. This book had great photographs and illustrations for readers as well, they all complemented the text. This book is obviously well-researched and clearly written, a very strong introduction to immigration. This book would be beneficial to high school students or equally adults. It could be used for drawn-out discussions in history courses. I could see this as a required reading in high school and endorse it to be as well.
I'm currently learning about immigration, immigration from Asia, Latin American immigrants, and more. Therefore, this book is important and applicable. History doesn't come easy to me, along with other people I presume, this book has helped me further comprehend immigration issues. This book could help students, teachers, and adults learn about our country's immigration and additionally the chance to read primary sources like you would find in a textbook. I appreciated the text being simple and straightforward to understand unlike other history books. This book can be dry, but immigration is a hot topic and is something all students should be aware of. I deem this book a remarkably good addition to a school's library and social studies classroom.
November 5, 2017
In all honesty, this was a very hard read! The information is straight forward, but it is very dry. It was challenging for me to get through this book because the information was very dull, but the message the book was intending to get across is very important. Being a future ESL teacher, it will be important to teach my students that everyone is different and that everyone has a different ethnic background, and as a teacher, it will be important to know my students' cultural heritage. This book did a good job with explaining that the diverse people who immigrated to America did not have it easy and they had to overcome their differences, and that is something I'd like to incorporate into that classroom. History is a very important subject in school, and it can be difficult to teach in a fun and entertaining way, but since I will be an elementary school teacher it will be important to make learning about history interesting and apply to my students' ethnic backgrounds. Even though this book wasn't my cup of tea, it is something a future middle or high school history teacher could use as a base for a lesson!
November 14, 2016
The best line is the first in the summary which is that America's relationship with immigration is paradoxical and Osborne does a fantastic job of demonstrating this. Not only is this a thorough examination of immigration throughout history, it provides historical context, definitions (with an addendum at the back about visas versus green cards, naturalization and citizenship), as well as instances both known and unknown regarding the movement of individuals and groups to the United States. It covers Latino and Hispanic immigrants, the current issues within the government regarding the DREAM act to Japanese internment, Angel Island, German and Italian immigration, taxes and deportation, tenements, and everything in between. Like I said, thorough.
Along with the numerous illustrations and photographs are plenty of quotations that solidify this book as timely, relevant, and important.
"'I can still remember when my wife and I were married and we moved a little stove into the kitchen.. and we had candlelight at night. We had a little farm, too... tomatoes, peppers, cabbage... I did pretty well for myself and my wife helped me... I'm eighty-nine... but I'm still cutting hair.'"
"'Some Americans don't see the opportunities they have here. They take things for granted... Our parents taught us that if we wanted something, we had to fight for it.'"
"'People say this is the land flowing with milk and honey, but you don't see that milk and honey until you work for it.'"
Along with the numerous illustrations and photographs are plenty of quotations that solidify this book as timely, relevant, and important.
"'I can still remember when my wife and I were married and we moved a little stove into the kitchen.. and we had candlelight at night. We had a little farm, too... tomatoes, peppers, cabbage... I did pretty well for myself and my wife helped me... I'm eighty-nine... but I'm still cutting hair.'"
"'Some Americans don't see the opportunities they have here. They take things for granted... Our parents taught us that if we wanted something, we had to fight for it.'"
"'People say this is the land flowing with milk and honey, but you don't see that milk and honey until you work for it.'"
September 5, 2016
Sometimes it takes a children's book to help me understand how this country got to be how it is, or to see in black and white history repeat itself again and again. "This Land is Our Land" did just that. It showed the history of immigration in this country and also the racism that prevented certain citizens from entering. It described the politics involved, too, but also asked the question of any child reading it, "Do we make it difficult for new people to come to this country? Do we treat them with fear and contempt, or do we treat them like human beings?"
An excellent read for any person, young or old, who wants a brief yet informative look at immigration.
An excellent read for any person, young or old, who wants a brief yet informative look at immigration.
October 15, 2017
I had little to no knowledge of immigration in the US before reading this book. I learned the basic things but nothing as in depth as this book was. It was short but I felt like I learned a lot.
I read this book at the same time I was reading a historical fiction novel and I understood more of the background of that book because of this one.
This book had plenty of pictures to show what the people looked like from the era in which they immigrated. This book made me think about the different accents around the US and I think I can understand how they came to be after reading about where everyone came from and where they planted themselves.
I read this book at the same time I was reading a historical fiction novel and I understood more of the background of that book because of this one.
This book had plenty of pictures to show what the people looked like from the era in which they immigrated. This book made me think about the different accents around the US and I think I can understand how they came to be after reading about where everyone came from and where they planted themselves.
June 28, 2016
Very timely, this history of immigration to the United States has chapters on the early years(pre-Civil War), Italians and Jews, Asians, Latin American, Refugees, and the current status of immigration. There is a color photo and every page but the narrative is the book's strength; it raises questions and will be very useful for reports. The discussion on refugees is especially relevant to current news, and back matter includes index, timeline, source notes, and bibliography. Only thing missing is a map.
August 29, 2016
This is a very thorough history of American immigration, and the visual layout is stunning. Lots of primary source photographs and other artwork to engage. Don't be fooled--- this content is still for older readers even though it looks very younger-kid friendly. It's almost too textbook-y to be considered a trade book, but I don't think it crosses that line. It's a very engaging read that should be used in any high school history class to better understand what students are currently inundated with.
January 2, 2017
Of all the questions Osborne asks in this book, the one I kept returning to was, "Why do we sometimes invite immigration and sometimes fear it?" Most people, when they think of history, expect to see progress (as in "forward or onward movement"), but looking at our history through the lens of immigration does not look like that. Our attitudes towards immigration have changed, but not in a linear way. Rather, our attitudes tend to circle back around. Books like this help us contextualize and examine our own beliefs, something that seems more important now than ever.
December 13, 2016
This is a great book that I would put in a classroom library. It was very informative about the process of immigration and how some were not allowed in the country due to racism. Its an easy read as well.
January 14, 2019
This Land Is Our Land
Immigration is all we see in our news today. People debate whether or not we should let migrants inside to flourish in our country. In, This Land Is Our Land, By Linda Barrett Osborne, Osborne describes the types of immigration starting from the Germans and Irish to the Chinese and how they arrived to America resulting in prejudice and struggling. Ultimately, the entire story depicts on a immigrant’s life in America.
When you think about a certain decade it’s normally classified by a trend or style that was popular during that time. For example, “ The Roaring 20’s”, is normally partying like Gatsby and fabulous attire. But what I really liked about this book was the other side of the story, the negative side. This book can ultimately be classified as the Titanic. The first class is what society sees: fancy, rich, parties, and trends. But, this book dives deeper into the “third class passengers” or the Immigrants’ lives - poor, sacrificial, and working all the time. Also, I liked how she focused on different groups of Immigrants and why they would come to America instead of focusing on one certain group the entire time. Finally, I liked the interviews with certain immigrants that the chapter is focusing on to get a first-hand look on their lives during that time period. As expressed before, this book ultimately kept me up at night in shock by how I’ve been raised to see certain eras as glamorous but now I’m being told the other side.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book except the dates of certain immigrants arriving to America were all over the place. Osborne kept it organized each chapter by certain immigrants coming to America, but would reference another group of immigrants that came either in the past or future to relate to the current group in the chapter. It was confusing because I would have to flip back a couple pages for extra clarification on the date Osborne was talking about. Although, I liked being painted the other picture of society where it wasn’t all fun & games during certain time periods. Every time I put the book down I felt sad. It made me realize that immigration towards certain countries has been happening for 100’s of years and still they are greeted with hatred and the thought that they could not assimilate into their new communities. It made me think of our news today and how a hundred or more years later people still hold grudges of prejudice against people trying to find homage.
If I had to give this book an honest rating it would have to be a four out of five stars.
I give this book that rating because it was so interesting and kept me captivated. Sometimes in the past, books I’ve read have thrown me out of the loop and I just wanted to have it finished. But, this book really kept me on my toes and would be perfect for anyone trying to learn more about American Immigration. Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book and definitely should be discussed more in this day in age.
Immigration is all we see in our news today. People debate whether or not we should let migrants inside to flourish in our country. In, This Land Is Our Land, By Linda Barrett Osborne, Osborne describes the types of immigration starting from the Germans and Irish to the Chinese and how they arrived to America resulting in prejudice and struggling. Ultimately, the entire story depicts on a immigrant’s life in America.
When you think about a certain decade it’s normally classified by a trend or style that was popular during that time. For example, “ The Roaring 20’s”, is normally partying like Gatsby and fabulous attire. But what I really liked about this book was the other side of the story, the negative side. This book can ultimately be classified as the Titanic. The first class is what society sees: fancy, rich, parties, and trends. But, this book dives deeper into the “third class passengers” or the Immigrants’ lives - poor, sacrificial, and working all the time. Also, I liked how she focused on different groups of Immigrants and why they would come to America instead of focusing on one certain group the entire time. Finally, I liked the interviews with certain immigrants that the chapter is focusing on to get a first-hand look on their lives during that time period. As expressed before, this book ultimately kept me up at night in shock by how I’ve been raised to see certain eras as glamorous but now I’m being told the other side.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book except the dates of certain immigrants arriving to America were all over the place. Osborne kept it organized each chapter by certain immigrants coming to America, but would reference another group of immigrants that came either in the past or future to relate to the current group in the chapter. It was confusing because I would have to flip back a couple pages for extra clarification on the date Osborne was talking about. Although, I liked being painted the other picture of society where it wasn’t all fun & games during certain time periods. Every time I put the book down I felt sad. It made me realize that immigration towards certain countries has been happening for 100’s of years and still they are greeted with hatred and the thought that they could not assimilate into their new communities. It made me think of our news today and how a hundred or more years later people still hold grudges of prejudice against people trying to find homage.
If I had to give this book an honest rating it would have to be a four out of five stars.
I give this book that rating because it was so interesting and kept me captivated. Sometimes in the past, books I’ve read have thrown me out of the loop and I just wanted to have it finished. But, this book really kept me on my toes and would be perfect for anyone trying to learn more about American Immigration. Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book and definitely should be discussed more in this day in age.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2017
Terrific look at a complicated issue in America. Each chapter introduces a new enthnic/racial group who emigrated to the United States, in roughly historical order--first the Northern Europeans (English, Germans), then eastern Europeans (Jews, Italians, etc.), and how they were received, or discriminated against, the contributions they made to building the country, the laws made that affected their arrival or their path to citizenship. Final chapter deals with current state of affairs of immigration (although was written before current President's proposed Muslim-majority country ban) and especially regarding the Dream Act. Gives a good balanced look at pro and con arguments concerning the suggested path to citizenship for children brought here illegally by parents looking for a better life. I found it a very interesting book, to see a summary of 200 years of immigration--i had no idea we'd enacted so many Acts and Laws over the years to restrict immigration for specific groups or instill quotas-- and how a pattern often emerges: new people come, and the people already here, former immigrants themselves, begin to resent the newcomers and want to keep them out. Happens over and over again. Sad, really. But also hopeful, in that so many came and worked hard and succeeded despite the obstacles in their way to becoming Americans. Beautifully designed book, for middle school and up, with colorful pastel-background pages delineating each chapter, and a plethora of photographs and images on each spread. Has extensive notes, sourcing each quote, and a thorough bibliography of sources, indicating which are good for younger readers. Appendix explains green card and visa process. Nice timeline summary of immigration events, also.
March 18, 2019
This Land Is Our Land was actually a very thought-provoking and
compelling book. It includes stories of immigrants coming from all over the world, including: Germany, Ireland, Italy, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It also includes heroic stories about refugees from war-torn countries. There is a lot of conversation going on about American immigration, today, so I figured this book would be fascinating to see how people’s ideas have changed and even stayed the same since the 1800s, and it was. One of my favorite quotes in this book was by Diana Yu, a Korean immigrant, who came to America. She states, “In America I learned to do things myself, solve my own problems instead of expecting someone else to solve it for me, I owe a lot to America. It has been my training ground. This country has taught me some of the most important lessons in life. Moreover, I like living in a multicultural/multiracial society.” Another quote that I felt was alluring was said by Pierre Berastain, an activist for the Dream Act who is also a Peruvian undocumented immigrant. He insightfully points out, “I am not a criminal, a monster...or someone who sits at home doing nothing, I care for this country...I am not asking that our government maintain an open-door policy for immigrants. I am simply asking that it give an opportunity to those of us who have proven themselves.” These two quotes and the stories in this book may be recent or decades old, but they are both pertinent and meaningful today. And, I think that any politician or person in power who can create or pass laws about immigration should read this book to see who immigrants actually are.
compelling book. It includes stories of immigrants coming from all over the world, including: Germany, Ireland, Italy, Eastern Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It also includes heroic stories about refugees from war-torn countries. There is a lot of conversation going on about American immigration, today, so I figured this book would be fascinating to see how people’s ideas have changed and even stayed the same since the 1800s, and it was. One of my favorite quotes in this book was by Diana Yu, a Korean immigrant, who came to America. She states, “In America I learned to do things myself, solve my own problems instead of expecting someone else to solve it for me, I owe a lot to America. It has been my training ground. This country has taught me some of the most important lessons in life. Moreover, I like living in a multicultural/multiracial society.” Another quote that I felt was alluring was said by Pierre Berastain, an activist for the Dream Act who is also a Peruvian undocumented immigrant. He insightfully points out, “I am not a criminal, a monster...or someone who sits at home doing nothing, I care for this country...I am not asking that our government maintain an open-door policy for immigrants. I am simply asking that it give an opportunity to those of us who have proven themselves.” These two quotes and the stories in this book may be recent or decades old, but they are both pertinent and meaningful today. And, I think that any politician or person in power who can create or pass laws about immigration should read this book to see who immigrants actually are.
June 11, 2017
This book is a 2017 YALSA Finalist. I read this as an ebook through Hoopla. This book discusses immigration to the United States from the 19th century to the present, and how Americans already here reacted. Osborne begins by discussing when Europeans who were not English began to immigrate to the United States and how they often encountered discrimination. Next, Osborne explores the immigration of Germans, Swedes, Italians, Irish, Chinese, and others. When reading this book, I saw the pattern of prejudice and “nativism” come up again and again with each new group of immigrants coming to America. Nativism is the term the Europeans used to describe who was really considered American and “white.” Osborne goes on to discuss modern immigration as well, and once again the pattern of prejudice arises. This book gives a great lesson about nation’s past and present experiences with immigration. What a fascinating read about our nation’s history.
I think this would be a beneficial book to share with students, especially considering how hot of a topic immigration has become recently. Students could compare and contrast the ways that each ethnic group was treated when they came to America. Maybe students could write letters to the Europeans about prejudice and how to treat people properly. I really think this book would open students’ eyes about how almost all groups have faced some kind of prejudice and struggle when immigrating.
I think this would be a beneficial book to share with students, especially considering how hot of a topic immigration has become recently. Students could compare and contrast the ways that each ethnic group was treated when they came to America. Maybe students could write letters to the Europeans about prejudice and how to treat people properly. I really think this book would open students’ eyes about how almost all groups have faced some kind of prejudice and struggle when immigrating.
August 8, 2018
Osborne illustrates and adds nuance to the complicated history of American immigration by weaving in first-person stories and some discussion of how the political and economic context in the U.S. and other countries shaped U.S. immigration and resettlement. That context does not include U.S. actions in other countries that destabilized their political regimes or economies, leading to emigration.
As soon as she reasonably can, Osborne reminds the reader that Africans brought to the U.S. as slaves were not immigrants and that they have a separate story. Fair enough. But is that why stories from African and Afro-Caribbean countries don't make it into a series of chapters that loosely align with continents? In the chapter on Refugees, Haiti and Rwanda are mentioned, but what about Somalia and Sudan, or economic immigrants from Nigeria, Kenya, and Liberia, to name a few countries?
Because the tone throughout is so neutral, I question whether young readers - the target audience - will pick up on the racism and discrimination that have been a shameful part of the American immigrant experience. I wish Osborne had used more forceful language or done more to highlight how the targets of our prejudices may change, but they are always rooted in fear of "the other."
The book has an attractive design with illustrations and photos on nearly every page. The Selected Time Line of Immigration History at the back is a nice outline for someone trying to track federal immigration policy.
As soon as she reasonably can, Osborne reminds the reader that Africans brought to the U.S. as slaves were not immigrants and that they have a separate story. Fair enough. But is that why stories from African and Afro-Caribbean countries don't make it into a series of chapters that loosely align with continents? In the chapter on Refugees, Haiti and Rwanda are mentioned, but what about Somalia and Sudan, or economic immigrants from Nigeria, Kenya, and Liberia, to name a few countries?
Because the tone throughout is so neutral, I question whether young readers - the target audience - will pick up on the racism and discrimination that have been a shameful part of the American immigrant experience. I wish Osborne had used more forceful language or done more to highlight how the targets of our prejudices may change, but they are always rooted in fear of "the other."
The book has an attractive design with illustrations and photos on nearly every page. The Selected Time Line of Immigration History at the back is a nice outline for someone trying to track federal immigration policy.
June 10, 2017
I found this book on the YALSA Nonfiction Award page, as it was a 2017 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction finalist. I listened to this book on Audible and found it very fascinating. I believe this book would be best for ages 12-17 and displays themes such as immigration, struggle, exclusion, segregation, and hostility. This book explores the first immigrations to the America's and leads way into discussions about immigration today, such as undocumented illegal aliens. This book shows America in two different lights; first the country that is known as the "safe haven", a place where anyone can succeed and find freedom, and second as a country that displays racism and constantly changes the restrictions on who should be let in. This Land is Our Land details each ethnicities immigration to the USA and the struggles and hostility that was given to them upon their arrival. This book could be used in the classroom to explore the benefits and weaknesses of being known as the "melting pot" country. Students could also research a certain ethnic group to explore the immigration process to the USA and their struggles more in depth. I also think the pictures benefit this book and could lead the students to understanding and engaging with the history displayed in this book more. I recommend reading this book with students in a high school setting!
Thanks
Jordan Dunlop
Thanks
Jordan Dunlop
June 16, 2019
This informational text utilizes the expository structure of description and includes quotes from individuals to discuss the history and experiences of those that immigrated to the United States from other countries. It describes the long time running debate regarding who and how people from other places should enter and remain the United States. Each chapter tells the story of groups of people throughout United States history that came to and made the United States their home.
Filled with visual aids to support readers' comprehension of this complex text such as photographs that capture historical moments and individuals as well as descriptive captions to explain each photograph, readers are able to visualize components of the text. There is also a timeline at the end of this text that describes key moments in time relating to the topic of immigration.
This 2017 ALA Award winner for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults text would be appropriate for high school students as it provides a window into United States history. It also serves as a tool for a healthy debate regarding immigration and helps students to answer this heavy question: Is this really our land? This text was accessed via myON, a digital platform that allows students to bookmark, take notes, and engage with online projects. It was great for me as I was still able to view the pictures and the text.
Filled with visual aids to support readers' comprehension of this complex text such as photographs that capture historical moments and individuals as well as descriptive captions to explain each photograph, readers are able to visualize components of the text. There is also a timeline at the end of this text that describes key moments in time relating to the topic of immigration.
This 2017 ALA Award winner for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults text would be appropriate for high school students as it provides a window into United States history. It also serves as a tool for a healthy debate regarding immigration and helps students to answer this heavy question: Is this really our land? This text was accessed via myON, a digital platform that allows students to bookmark, take notes, and engage with online projects. It was great for me as I was still able to view the pictures and the text.
May 22, 2019
Okay book
If you are looking for a book about all types of immigration, especially African-American immigration, then you should not read this book. This book mostly focuses on European immigration to America.
This Land is Our Land by Linda Barrett Osborne gives lots of basic information on the history of American immigration (as the subtitle indicates that it would). However, I find the beginning of the book quite repetitive. It’s almost as if the author is running out of evidence to support her claim. That being said, I know that this is not the case since the author never fails to bring up new evidence and present new facts. But certain points are still quite unnecessarily repetitive at times.
I did appreciate the fact that the author is very real about modern conditions of immigration and how certain people (who may even come from immigrated families generation before) stop others that don’t look like them from immigrating to America and how horrible this is.
Overall, this is a good book for early teenagers and on. It’s an interesting read and presents you with a lot of informative text. The images in the book help to visualize what the author is talking about in the text and it is not too difficult to read.
If you are looking for a book about all types of immigration, especially African-American immigration, then you should not read this book. This book mostly focuses on European immigration to America.
This Land is Our Land by Linda Barrett Osborne gives lots of basic information on the history of American immigration (as the subtitle indicates that it would). However, I find the beginning of the book quite repetitive. It’s almost as if the author is running out of evidence to support her claim. That being said, I know that this is not the case since the author never fails to bring up new evidence and present new facts. But certain points are still quite unnecessarily repetitive at times.
I did appreciate the fact that the author is very real about modern conditions of immigration and how certain people (who may even come from immigrated families generation before) stop others that don’t look like them from immigrating to America and how horrible this is.
Overall, this is a good book for early teenagers and on. It’s an interesting read and presents you with a lot of informative text. The images in the book help to visualize what the author is talking about in the text and it is not too difficult to read.
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